Hong Kong Customs, in collaboration with the Immigration Department (ImmD), conducted a joint counter-terrorism exercise codenamed "WATCHER" this morning (July 28) at the Shenzhen Bay Control Point.

     About 100 officers from Customs and the ImmD participated in the exercise. The exercise simulated a scenario in a joint departmental counter-terrorism operation during a major festival, where the driver and passenger of an outbound private car were suspected to be related to terrorist activities. Officers subsequently detected suspected terrorism-related items and forged travel documents inside the vehicle. During the examination, a suspected bomb device was discovered at the outbound private car kiosk. Officers immediately initiated an evacuation operation, evacuating all persons at the scene in a safe and orderly manner.

     This exercise enhanced frontline officers' counter-terrorism awareness and their capabilities to handle counter-terrorism intelligence, while strengthening inter-departmental co-ordination and communication in response to terrorism-related emergencies, protecting the lives and property of citizens as well as safeguarding national security.

Ends/Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Issued at HKT 23:03

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